DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 610 KB)
Is It Permissible to Cut Fruit or Crush Ice on Shabbat?

It is prohibited to squeeze fruit on Shabbat. The question is whether one may cut fruit, which may cause juice to be extracted. For example, when making a fruit salad, there is usually juice that forms at the bottom.

The answer can be derived from a different case of crushing ice. Maran rules in accordance with the Rambam that crushing ice or snow on Shabbat is prohibited as an offshoot of "Sohet" (squeezing), since in both instances the action of squeezing extracts liquid. The Mishna Berura cites the Taz (Rabbi David Segal, Poland, 1586-1667) who holds that nevertheless, it is permitted to cut a cube of ice into smaller chips, even though water will form. The reason is that he does not have intent for the water and moreover, the water is going to be discarded.

Based on this precedent of ice, the Minhat Yishak (Rabbi Yishak Ya’akob Weiss, Jerusalem, 1902-1989) (4:99:2) permits cutting the fruit, since he does not have intent for the juice. This is also the position of the Shabbat Shelomo (p. 147).

SUMMARY
It is permitted to slice fruit on Shabbat, even though juice will be extracted.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
May One Read on Shabbat by a Light with a Dimmer?
May One Move a Mukseh Item Indirectly on Shabbat?
Is Gathering Salt On Shabbat Considered A Transgression of the Melacha Known As Me’Amer
Is It Permissible To Lace Shoes on Shabbat
Smelling Vics to Relieve Nasal Congestion on Shabbat
Cutting Salad & Vegetables on Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Sit On or Lean Against A Car On Shabbat
Using a Pin on Shabbat
Observing Shabbat When One Loses Tracks of Days, in the Far East, or When Crossing the Date Line
The Proper Text in the Shabbat Minha Service: "Ve'yanuhu Bo" or "Ve'yanuhu Bam"
Moving Animals on Shabbat
The Severity Of Transgressing Shabbat
Using a Sefer Torah With "Rimonim" (Bells) on Shabbat
Opening an Umbrella on Shabbat
Lifting the Bottom of One's Garment While Walking in a Public Domain
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found